TREADMILL DOCTOR NOTE :

MSRP:

$799.00

Overall Rating: 4.5

If you are looking the purchase a Proform this is probably not the one we would recommend first. It has solid quality at this price range, but is a little too pricey. If you compare it to the 510 E it's hard to see what you get for the extra $200.</p> The Proform 710 E isn't a bad elliptical at $799, but you can do better without leaving this price range. If you're convinced that you want to have it, go ahead and get the 510 E. It will provide similar quality, but it will only cost $599. You could also pay an extra $200 for the 910 E and get a quieter machine with better quality and a better warranty.</p> Ergonomically speaking, this model is fantastic. You're not going to find an elliptical with a more natural range of motion in this price range. In fact, it compares favorably with many models that cost $3,000 or more. The adjustability isn't nearly as impressive, but it's difficult to find better when dealing with models that are this cheap. The stride length can adjust from 18"-20", so you get a few options to help fit the movement to your particular body type.</p> The projected reliability of this machine isn't bad. If you want an elliptical with a longer life expectancy, you're going to need to be willing to spend more than $800. The quality of parts is about average, which is common in this price range. To get better quality parts you have to leave the bargain segment.</p> The noise level is not great. You can find ellipticals that are quieter during operation without having to pay more for them. If this is a major concern for you, you may want to pass on this model.</p> The warranty on the Proform 710 E is awful. Parts and labor are covered for 1 year, while the frame is covered for life. This kind of coverage shows a lack of faith in this elliptical on the part of the manufacturer. When the people who made the machine don't feel confident in it, it's hard to see why you'd want to purchase it.</p>

General Information

These products are produced by Icon Health and Fitness. They are the largest retail fitness company. This is one of the original Icon brands and can be found in most mass merchants. They typically range between $500 and $1,500 and have short warranties for the most part, although we have seen a shift in regard to that on mainly motors in some units. The higher end units have much longer warranties. The gee-whiz factor is high on these machines because they are packed with features, but some of these features can be glitch prone. Except for the higher priced units with a selling price of $1000 or more, we wouldn't recommend these for serious runners, but the quality of the machine is so much better than those produced just a few years ago. Most people who are walkers or occasional joggers will be satisfied with the new Proforms.

Quality / Philosophy

Proform is produced by Icon, a company with thousands of employees and large resources. Put simply, their machines have the best design in the business. Icon has a long, storied history that provides an example of how the big keep getting bigger. Icon used to be the mass-market darling because of their cheap prices, but they had the quality to match. These days they put quality into the machines and pack them with features. On the low end, expect low quality, but that is more of a function of price rather than engineering. Proform is still saddled with many problematic models from their past, but the quality has rapidly improved, especially with their machines in the $900 and up range.

Outlook

Icon is the largest fitness equipment producer in the world with over $1 billion in sales. If the fitness industry were a solar system, Icon is so powerful that they would be the Sun. In terms of stability they are the best, but overall their customer service isn't up to the standards of any of the lower volume producers. They have promised an improvement on this and have new management in the service department, so we hope this helps. Although you get a value price for the product, you also get value service, so keep this in mind when buying their machines. Due to the sheer number of units they produce, we pick up support in many cases where this factory leaves off.